Maker

Ana Sincu

Ana Sincu, a Moldovan master woodcarver based in Portugal, transforms pruning offcuts into unique pieces using only hand tools. Each piece reflects her respect for trees and for the art of slow work.

See the pieces (3)

CARVED WITH TIME AND PATIENCE

The story3piecesSee the pieces

Born in Moldova in 1992, Ana Sincu grew up tending geese by the Prut River, until her family moved to Portugal when she was 9 years old. In 2020, a few years after graduating with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Lisbon, the world went into lockdown, and Ana found refuge in her parents' countryside property. This sparked an impulse in her: to split and explore pruned wood, discovering its scent and grain.

Today, in her workshop, Ana rescues pruning remnants and repurposes wood from various trees - apricot, olive, plum, among others - and works them with time and patience, using only manual tools - knives, gouges, sandpaper, axes. Her signature pieces are spoons, all different in their curves, sizes, colours, and imperfections, depending on the wood they come from, with all their natural knots and protrusions.

[short_code:type:gallery](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0591/0187/2233/files/Images_1024x1024.jpg_1_1bc7129c-c3d7-4400-8c84-919595dbe0e1.png?v=1759231498,https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0591/0187/2233/files/Images_1024x1024.jpg_2_0ebda9f3-402a-41ea-bfab-4e1723f2fa20.png?v=1759231496)

In every carved spoon, you can feel the love for the trees and the land. Each handcrafted piece is finished with natural oils and waxes, demanding care and ceremony, countering our society's voracious appetite for fast consumption.

[short_code:type:producer_cta](Discover this producer's products,Learn more,https://ra-ro.eu/en/collections/produtores?sort_by=title-ascending&filter.p.vendor=Ana+Sincu)

The journey

Ana Sincu

Childhood and Education

Ana Sincu was born in Moldova in 1992 and spent her childhood tending geese by the river Prut. At the age of 9, she moved with her family to Portugal, where she later studied and graduated in Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon.

Artistic Awakening

In 2020, during the global pandemic, Ana returned to her parents' country house. The quiet of lockdown rekindled a deep connection with nature, inspiring her to explore wood as a material, specifically wood from pruning, appreciating its grain, scent and texture.

Artistic Practice and Process

Working in her workshop, Ana uses only hand tools (knives, gouges, sandpaper and axes) to shape reclaimed wood from trees such as apricot, olive and plum. Her signature creations are wooden spoons, each unique in size, shape and imperfections, reflecting the original character of the tree it comes from.

Philosophy and Craft

Ana's work is grounded in a deep respect for nature and slow craftsmanship. Each piece is finished with natural oils and waxes and requires attentive care. Her art challenges fast consumer culture, inviting an appreciation of beauty, slowness and connection to the land.

The technique

ABOUT WOOD

Ana uses wood from trees such as apricot, olive, plum, black acacia, sucupira and cedar, all sourced from pruning or scraps. Each wood offers unique characteristics in terms of colour, texture and grain, and is treated with natural oils and waxes to preserve its essence.

Handmade by Ana Sincu

The pieces

Ana Sincu's hands are calloused but happy. She is a master woodcarver and works wood exclusively with hand tools: chisels, gouges, knives, bench vices, sandpaper. She likes to choose them one by one. She takes her time. It's what they call slow working. Because yes: Good. Things. Come. To those. Who wait. In Ana's workshop, every tree is an object of respect. Just like your experience. These spoons are not just utensils; they are invitations to slow down, to turn the simple act of drinking coffee into a ritual of mindfulness.

Maker